Week in Review: Blame and Breakthroughs

Panicked Thinking

A file picture dated 11 September 2006 shows the Units 5 and 6 of the Bulgarian nuclear power plant during a sunrise in the town of Kozloduy. Photo: EPA/VASSIL DONEV

Much of the world is gearing up for this coming winter - and the associated heating season - with trepidation. The price of key heating and electricity generation inputs such as natural gas is not only rising, but there is not enough of it, even at high prices.

Not surprisingly, the blame game has started. In many quarters, the push to switch to renewable energy sources has been blamed. But is renewable energy really at the root of the problem? In his opinion for Balkan Insight, Viktor Berishaj argues that this is not the case and that using rising energy prices as an excuse to delay the green energy transition would be a mistake.

Read more: Price Panic Risks Derailing Western Balkans' Energy Transition (October 21, 2021)

Breakthrough Ahead?

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev (L) and North Macedonia's President Stevo Pendarovski (R). Photo: EPA-EFE/GEORGI LICOVSKI

A degree of optimism has been inserted into North Macedonia's hopes regarding the start of accession negotiations with the EU. At the EU-Western Balkan 6 summit in Slovenia at the beginning of October, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev spoke of a six-point protocol as a basis for fresh talks between Sofia and Skopje on resolving their dispute.

If an agreement can be struck in November, there are hopes in Skopje and among supporters of enlargement in the EU and the region that the start of negotiations between North Macedonia and the EU could be approved at an EU summit in mid-December. But how big are the hurdles on the road ahead? And how likely is it that...